Cancer Society: Returning funds ‘a move backward’

The American Cancer Society calls Wisconsin giving back millions in federal health care dollars, “a move backward.” The funding was intended to help set up a state health care exchange but Governor Walker is turning down the $38 million in Early Innovator Grant funds and stopping work on the exchange.

Allison Miller with the ACS says these networks would allow affordable insurance to be accessed. She says the uninsured tend to not keep up on preventative testing: the result is higher health costs which put taxpayers on-the-hook.

“Congress found that in 2008, the cost of providing uncompensated care to uninsured individuals was about $43 billion,” said Miller.

Governor Walker said in a statement he is concerned with, “increased health care costs and insurance premiums.”

The exchanges are part of a federal mandate under the Affordable Care Act.